Results - Operations and Procedures

Summary

Over half of the people who responded to the survey had an
operation or procedure during their most recent stay in hospital.
In general, people were mostly positive about the explanations
provided before and after the operation or procedure with all
showing a rise in positive ratings from 2014.

However results suggested that more could be done to prepare
patients for how they could expect to feel after the operation or
procedure has been completed.

Operations and procedures

Over half of respondents (
54 per cent) had an
operation or procedure during their most recent
stay in hospital.

Good communication before and after surgery is essential. It
assists patients in understanding the risks, benefits and possible
outcomes of surgery and can assist in aiding recovery and adherence
to medical treatment.

Those who indicated they had an operation or procedure were
asked about the explanations staff provided before and after their
surgery (Figure 21).

People who had surgery were most positive about the explanations
given
beforehand around surgery (Figure 21):

around four out of five (
81 per cent) indicated they were told
'completely' about the
risks and benefits of surgery

around four out of five (
78 per cent) indicated
'yes completely' whether
staff provided explanations about the operation
itself, a rise of two percentage points from 2014

over three out of four (
76 per cent) indicated that their
questions were answered in a way they could
understand

One area where people were less positive was around
explanations about how they
would feel after the operation; around two out of
three people (
64 per cent) responded
'yes completely' to this question, a rise of three
percentage points from 2014 (Figure 21).

Although it may be easier for staff to provide explanations
about the mechanics and risks and benefits of the procedure, it is
important to convey how patients might feel afterwards to prepare
them for what to expect.

Figure 21 Summary of communication prior to and after operations
and procedures (%)